Sofia Martinez
Hoop houses, also known as high tunnels or greenhouses, are structures designed to protect plants from the elements and provide a controlled growing environment. The process of securing plastic to a hoop house typically involves unrolling and lifting the plastic over the hoops, ensuring it is taut and properly secured at the corners and ends, and using various hardware components such as spring wire, lock channels, snap clamps, duct tape, or clips to attach the plastic to the metal frame. It is important to choose a calm day with low wind speeds to avoid complications during the installation process.
Characteristics and Values Table for Securing Plastic to a Hoop House
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Timing | Choose a day with low wind speed and mild, sunny weather. Avoid cold weather. |
| Preparation | Have the necessary tools on hand, including ladders, bolt cutters or a hacksaw, push brooms, and tennis balls. Order the right size and type of plastic in advance. |
| Process | Unroll the plastic in the early morning, ensuring it has at least 2 extra feet around the structure. Use soft-bristled brooms or poles with tennis balls to guide the plastic over the hoops, being careful to avoid corners, boards, or hardware. Secure the plastic with spring wire or wiggle wire, starting from the baseboards and working your way up. |
| Additional Tips | Use snap clamps or duct tape for attachment. For PVC hoops, consider medium-to-large binder clips or PVC clips. |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare the plastic and hoop house
When preparing to secure plastic to a hoop house, it is important to choose a calm day with low wind speeds to avoid the wind working against you. It is also advisable to have extra hands available to help with the process, especially when dealing with wind issues. Make sure you have the necessary tools on hand, such as ladders, bolt cutters or a hacksaw, push brooms, and tennis balls to protect the plastic when guiding it over the structure.
Before beginning, ensure you have ordered the right size and type of plastic for your hoop house. Hoop house plastic is specifically designed to offer durable and long-lasting protection, with multiple layers of polyethylene and polyester string reinforcement to resist tears and punctures. It is also important to consider the light transmission and UV protection properties of the plastic to ensure optimal growing conditions for your plants.
Once you have the plastic, start by removing any old plastic from the hoop house. This can be done by cutting it into manageable lengths or rolling it up. If you are using a metal frame, clean the connectors and apply new high-quality duct tape.
Now, unroll the new plastic outside the hoop house, keeping the surface that will be on the outside dry. Choose one of the long sides and begin securing the plastic with spring wire or wiggle wire, working from the bottom up to the top. This will help to create a tight seal and reduce wrinkles. If you are using insect netting, it should be placed in the lock channel before installing the plastic.
Finally, with the help of your crew, slowly and evenly pull the plastic over the top of the frame until it reaches the ground on the opposite side. Use brooms or poles with tennis balls attached to guide the plastic and prevent snagging.
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Use spring wire to secure the plastic
Spring wire is the industry standard for securing greenhouse plastic. It is also a popular method because it allows you to install and remove the plastic without damaging it. This means you can make adjustments to your top cover if it wasn't initially put on perfectly square, or if you need to remove an end-wall piece of plastic to create a larger entrance.
To secure the plastic with spring wire, first, choose a day with low wind speeds. Unroll the plastic in the early morning to avoid having the wind work against you. It is best to have extra hands available, especially when dealing with wind issues. Plan where you will need people standing ahead of time to secure the corners.
Once the plastic is unrolled, move to one of the long sides and begin securing the film into the lock channel with spring wire at the hip board. Pull the plastic down as tight as you can and secure it with spring wire. After completion, you will be able to see where you can retighten the plastic by removing a section of spring wire and pulling from the bottom.
If you plan to install insect netting to protect the roll-up sides on your hoop house, it will need to be placed in the lock channel with a separate set of spring wire before you install the plastic. When purchasing, remember to add enough extra spring wire to run the length of your hoop house four times.
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Use snap clamps for roll-up sides
Snap clamps are a great way to secure plastic to a hoop house with roll-up sides. They are a very inexpensive and simple-to-use attachment hardware. They are invaluable for creating roll-up sides on hoop houses, high tunnels, and greenhouses.
Snap clamps are pushed over the top of the greenhouse plastic and onto the roll bar. They are available in various sizes, but the most widely used ones fit over 1.315" OD (1 3/8" top rail) tubing. You can also get them in different materials, such as reinforced ABS plastic, which has excellent holding power and durability and is UV stabilized and frost resistant for reliable long-term outdoor use.
When using snap clamps, it is recommended to place one clamp every 4-5 feet. This will help to secure the plastic to the roll-up sides effectively. You can also add simple roll-up handles to make the process of rolling up the sides easier.
It is important to note that snap clamps are not suitable for all structures. They are designed for use with metal tubing and are only applicable for structures with a set outer structure. Additionally, if you are using EMT piping, you should select a snap clamp size that matches your piping diameter (e.g., a 1/2" snap clamp for 1/2" EMT piping).
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Work with a partner
Working with a partner is essential when securing plastic to a hoop house, especially when dealing with large plastic sheets and windy conditions. Here are some detailed instructions to effectively collaborate with a partner on this project:
Planning and Preparation:
Before starting, it's crucial to choose a calm day with low wind speeds to avoid any complications. Plan your approach by deciding where each person will stand and assigning specific tasks. Gather the necessary tools, including ladders, bolt cutters or a hacksaw, push brooms, and tennis balls or soft-bristled brooms to protect the plastic and guide it over the structure. Ensure you have enough helpers near the endwalls to assist with unrolling and unfolding, providing enough slack for the pullers.
Unrolling and Lifting the Plastic:
Start by unrolling the plastic early in the morning to take advantage of milder winds. Work in tandem to grab opposite corners of the plastic and carefully lift it over the hoops of the hoop house. Communicate constantly to synchronize your movements and prevent the plastic from getting caught on corners, boards, or hardware, which can lead to tears. Use your tools to gently guide the plastic and keep it from snagging.
Securing the Plastic:
Once the plastic is fully unrolled and lifted over the structure, work together to secure it in place. Use spring wire or wiggle wire to attach the plastic into the lock channels, starting from the baseboards and working your way up. One person can feed the wire into the channel while the other smooths out any wrinkles and ensures the plastic is taut. Remember to leave at least 2 extra feet of plastic around the structure on the ground for a secure fit.
Troubleshooting and Adjustments:
As you work, keep an eye out for any mishaps or tears in the plastic. Have a roll of greenhouse repair tape handy to fix small tears immediately. If you encounter significant wrinkles or need to adjust the tension, collaborate to remove a section of spring wire and pull from the bottom to retighten the plastic. Always communicate and work together to troubleshoot any issues that arise.
Finalizing the Process:
Before finalizing the installation, double-check that the plastic is securely attached and there are no loose ends. Work in pairs to attach any additional components, such as jumper hoses and inflation hoses, ensuring everything is securely fastened. Finally, test the stability of the structure by gently pulling on the plastic from various points to ensure it can withstand mild wind conditions.
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Use PVC clips
Using PVC clips is an effective way to secure plastic to your hoop house. This method is ideal for protecting vegetable plants from cold weather and pests like cabbage moths.
To begin, ensure you have the necessary materials and tools. You will need PVC pipes, plastic sheeting or polytunnel plastic, PVC clips, anchor stakes, a saw or drill, and safety gear such as gloves and eye protection.
The first step is to create the frame of your hoop house. Cut the PVC pipes to the desired length and spacing, typically around 80 cm apart, using a handsaw or drill. Form hoops by bending the PVC pipes, following their natural curve. Secure the hoops by drilling self-tapping timber screws through the plastic pipe and into the wood below.
Next, roll out the plastic sheeting or polytunnel plastic over the hoops. Work with the wind when unfolding to avoid the plastic getting pushed onto the ribs, which can make the process more challenging. Use push brooms or poles with tennis ball ends to guide the plastic over the structure smoothly and prevent tears.
Finally, use the PVC clips to attach the plastic securely to the PVC hoops. Place the clips along the hoops at regular intervals, ensuring a tight seal. For added security, especially in windy conditions, use anchor stakes to secure the hoop house to the ground.
With these steps, you can effectively secure plastic to your hoop house using PVC clips, providing protection for your plants from the elements and pests.
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Frequently asked questions
Poly Lock Channels with spring wire is the industry standard for securing plastic to a hoop house. Snap clamps are another inexpensive option.
You will need a ladder, bolt cutters or a hacksaw, push brooms, and tennis balls.
It is best to secure plastic to a hoop house on a day with low wind speeds. It is also recommended to do it in mild and sunny weather.
